Notre Dame vs. Purdue Football: Previewing the Purdue Game for the Irish

After winning a nail-biter at Pittsburgh a week ago, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame head down to Purdue in search of their third win in a row.

The Boilermakers are Notre Dame's third Big Ten opponent this season, following a loss at the hands of Michigan and a win over Michigan State.

As for Purdue, Saturday's game will be the team's first against a BCS team this season, after winning two of three games against Middle Tennessee State, Rice and Southeast Missouri State.

Notre Dame won last year's edition of the rivalry 23-12, which was also Brian Kelly's first game as head coach.

It was the third win in a row over the Boilermakers.

What should you be looking for in this year's meeting of the two teams?

Find out as we preview Notre Dame vs. Purdue.

Purdue's Offense

As Brian Kelly said today in his weekly press conference, Purdue head coach Danny Hope's "personality and experience as an offensive line coach is really showing in (his) team."

The fruits of that experience are coming in loads for the Boilermaker rushing attack, which currently ranks 10th in the nation at a clip of 258.7 yards per game.

Leading the way for that fearsome ground game is the two-headed monster of Ralph Bolden (39 carries, 223 yards) and Akeem Shavers (29 carries, 186 yards).

When Purdue isn't rumbling ahead on the ground, it's going to the air by way of first-year starter Caleb TerBush.

Through three games, TerBush has completed 51-of-81 pass attempts, good for 546 yards and one score.

TerBush has also made good decisions with the football, as he's only thrown one interception thus far.

At 6'5" and 225 pounds, many would assume he's a slow, lumbering pocket passer, but he has some legs. He's rushed the ball 27 times for 95 yards and one score this season.

Also, if TerBush struggles, backup and former Miami Hurricane Robert Marve will be able to step in and run the offense.

Marve got the start against Notre Dame last season.

The overall success of the Boilermaker offense rests on the shoulders of the offensive line. The unit must pave the way for rushing attack, or else it'll be a long day for Danny Hope and Co.

Purdue's Defense

It all starts up front for Purdue's defense in defensive coordinator Gary Emanuel's 4-3 scheme.

Monster defensive tackles Kawann Short (6'3", 305) and Bruce Gaston (6'2", 300) take away a majority of straight-ahead runs by opposing running backs.

However, the biggest strength of the Boilermaker D may be the veteran secondary led by senior safeties Albert Evans and Logan Link.

The linebacking unit is led by senior middle linebacker Joe Holland. Will Lucas and Dwayne Beckford will line up beside Holland.

The most impressive attribute of this defense is the overall speed and athleticism that Danny Hope and his coaching staff have been able to bring in since taking over in 2009.

Notre Dame's offense presents the first big test for the defense this season.

Notre Dame's Keys to the Game

1. Throw the First Punch

Playing on the road is never easy, so it's imperative that the Irish come out and set the tone early. The players are still just as hungry as they were after the 0-2 start, so expect to see that same tenacity the team showed against Michigan State and Pittsburgh.

2. Execute Defensive Assignments

Purdue employs the spread offense, a system that Irish defenses have had a tough time defending in recent memory. The defense has been playing near-perfect football thus far, but one big play the Boilermakers could be the start of a downward spiral.

3. Protect the Football

Notre Dame has been struggling with turnovers, as the team ranks 120th, or dead last, in the nation in turnover margin. It's the most glaring weakness of the team, and has been the reason for the two losses this season.

4. Distribute the Football

Yes, I'm talking to you, Tommy Rees. It's time to get the ball to your other playmakers. T.J. Jones and Theo Riddick ran excellent routes last week, but simply weren't factors in the passing game. Purdue's defensive game plan will be to take away Michael Floyd, opening up opportunities for Riddick and Jones.

Purdue's Keys to the Game

1. Shut Down Michael Floyd

Notre Dame's offense has been overly reliant on star receiver Michael Floyd this season, and became stagnant when Pittsburgh double-covered him. The same will be true if Purdue commits two defensive backs to blanket Floyd.

2. Blitz, Blitz, Blitz

Irish quarterback Tommy Rees is still young and experienced, so he's likely to make poor throws when pressured. Rees has also been a turnover machine this season, as he has been responsible for eight of the team's nation-leading 15 turnovers.

3. Utilize Play-Action

Notre Dame's defense has been one of the nation's best against the run, making play-action a necessary play-call in Saturday's game. Irish cornerback Gary Gray has been vulnerable when single-covering receivers all season, making receivers salivate when lining up across from him.

Matchups To Keep an Eye On

1. Tommy Rees vs. Purdue Secondary

Tommy Rees was largely ineffective for a majority of the Irish's game against Pittsburgh last week. If the Boilermaker secondary plays well, Rees is likely to have another lackluster day.

2. Purdue Defensive Line vs. Notre Dame Offensive Line

Like I mentioned earlier, it all starts up front for Purdue's defense. Controlling the line of scrimmage is obviously a critical aspect of the game, and Notre Dame's offensive line has been able to do that all season. It'll be a steep challenge for Purdue's front four.

3. Purdue Rushing Attack vs. Notre Dame Defense

The Boilermaker ground game ranks 10th in the nation, averaging 258 yards per game. However, those figures have come against non-BCS competition. Purdue should be wary of the fact that Notre Dame limited Michigan State's potent rushing attack to only 29 yards on 23 carries.

Conclusion

Notre Dame is angry football team right now. The team is still carrying a very large chip on its collective shoulder after dropping the first two games of the season.

However, the team has won two straight and is looking for a third on Saturday.

It may also finally be the mentally tough team that fans expected it to be. Brian Kelly stated that his team played with poise and confidence for the first time this season last Saturday at Pitt.

Poise and confidence can't be coached, so it's a sign that the team is playing as a unit and takes the field knowing it's going to win.

That's not good news for Purdue.

The Boilermakers may be 2-1, but haven't played a BCS opponent yet this season.

It'll be interesting early on, but the Irish will be rolling midway through the second quarter.

Final Score Prediction: Notre Dame 31, Purdue 10